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PATENTED AUG. 28, 1855.

G. W. B. GEDNEY. ROTARY WOOD SPLITTING MACHINE.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

G. IV.

B. GEDNEY, 01* NEW YORK, N. Y.

ROTARY WOOD-SPLITTING- MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 13,492, dated August 28, 1855.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gr. WV. 13. GEDNEY, ofthe cit-y, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Splitting Wood, Consisting of Machinery Therefor;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, inwhich Figure 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2, a knife detached; Fig. 8, avertical transverse section; Fig. 4, a. top plan; Fig. 5, views of astraight knife.

My improved machinery for splitting fire wood consists of a largecylinder or rim a that is attached by one edge to a wheel or disk I) onan axle c that is supported in an upright frame (Z so as to be easilyrevolved. In the rim a above named are two. or more oblong openings intowhich the splitting wedges or knives e are inserted. A detailed view ofone of these knives is seen at Fig. 2. It consists of a base that fitsthe curve of the inside of the rim. The rear part or back at e isgrooved so as to embrace the rear edge of the opening, and the frontportion or flank 6 laps over the front edge of the opening of the rim onthe inside and is there confined by a single bolt, as clearlyrepresented. The edge of the knife or wedge 6 projects a proper distanceabove the outer perimeter of the rim to make the proper cut. The mosteffective form of knife is made with V shaped corrugations, the apex ofthe V that projects most being divided for a purpose to be decribed. Twoof these knives may be placed one on each side of rim, the projectionsof one knife being opposite the depressions of the other, or one of theknives may present a straight edge and the other the corrugated asbefore stated.

Above the splitting wheel just described there is a hopper f, into whichthe wood after it has been sawed is put and falls by its own gravityupon the revolving wheel where it is split as the knives come aroundjust in front of the hopper there is a set of thin projecting platesthat project down one opposite each depression in the knife edges andothers opposite the openings at the apex of the knives before named.These serve to clear the knives and allow them to work freely. At therear side of the trough I have a series of small fingers or catches h onan axis that is attached to a long lever 2' so as to be turned by it.These catches come in contact with the wood to be split at the pointwhere the knife enters and prevent its rising while under the action ofthe knife or splitting wedge. lVhen this passes the wood is relieved soas to fall by means of the action of a pin upon the lever i. The largewheel may be geared in any convenient form with the driving power. Inthis drawing I have shown a spur gear around the rim a of the largecutter into which a pinion m Works and on the axis of the pinion thereis a band wheel a to connect with the driving power.

Having thus described my invention what I claim therein as new and forwhich I desire to secure Letters Patent is- 1. The machine hereindescribed for split ting wood consisting of the V grooved knives actingupon the wood as herein described having openings in their apex toreceive the clearers as above specified and in combination therewith thefingers for holding down the rear end of the wood to be split.

2. I also claim the mode of attaching the knives by the groove 6 attheir back and an overreaching flanch e by which the resisting straintends to hold the knife in place as herein specified without bringingthe strain upon the bolt by which it is fastened.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twenty ninth day ofJune G. W. B. GEDNEY. Witnesses:

JAcoB HATZEL, J r., J. C. GREENOUGH.

